JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13374, 16 March 1909, Page 9

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Keeping dwvn Cliformr.... thiM!v-s, t>K -, is now a pretty l.usin ,4 on some lowU.. A land owner i«fornis tho ■'Tapanui Conner that it iortebim fo 13s to cit thf thistles on. .s.rtioii of 1 -i-h land.

Tho recent heavy rains in "Wanfiamii hare not only had" a wj beneficinl olupon the kmi-s lands, but hare Wed edrontaafou> to tho tourist traffic. The waU-r in tho river has rwn several f<-ct. and tho difficulties experienced by*M)ine of the up-river Steamers during the dry feuiiimw months are now ull over fr>r tliis sealon.

[■'■ A larue number ot landoniifrs wcro [ charged at the Magistrate's Court at Duntdin yesterday with failin™ to cut x Canadian and Calil'ornian thistlos on tbeir lands in country districts. In the majority of case* the defendants were firred 10s, and in tho remainder 20s.

A splendid rain fell at Feiklinc; on fffiday night and Saturday, witlh a promise of more. Five wet'ks dry wea-< the* , has a bad effect upon the feed and , stock, causing prices to have a downward tendency. It is now expected that •prices will show an advance.

. Iα some pai-ts of South Canterbury (says tho "Timaru Herald") a peculiar disease is at present playing havoc among the lambs, and great loss has been suffered by some farmers in consequence. The disease does not confine itself to small or poor-conditioned lambs, but attacks the big as well, and kills them in a very short time. Change of feed and other remedies havo been tiied, but without success. By some it is considered that ruet and dust on the crass is at the bottom of tno trouble, and that it would disappear with a good rain to dear and freshen the pastures. Some farmers have expressed their intention of calling in the services of a veterinary surgeon to examine some of the dead lambs and thus ascertain if possible the cause of and a remedy for the trouble. ' HA WARDEN. ' The entries for the Hawarden A. and -P. Show, which takes place on Thursday, constitute a Tecord, there an .increase over last year of 160 entries. ■ The numbers for tho previous two years are:—l9o7 646, 1908 907. The ■ principal increases this year arc:— Draught horses 7, sheep 60, grain and ■roots 40, cooking and home produce 50. A special train will leave Christchurch nt 6.30 n.m., reaching Hawarden at 10 •a.m. The special will pick tip passengers and stock en route, as advertised. The , Association asks that the visiting public should patronise the special, and thus assist the. Association. Hot water will bo provided for the public free. GERALDIXE. The Geraldine Presbyterian Church -held harvest thanksgiving services last (Sunday. The Rev. A. B. Todd, the minister of the church, preached' morning and evening to good congregations. Special harvest anthems were given Dy 'file choir at each service, and appropriate psalms and hymns were sung.